Number: 1989-10
WHEREAS, population growth in the western United States is causing increased interest in and use of public lands in the region; and
WHEREAS, the Toiyabe National Forest administers land in Nevada and eastern California; and
WHEREAS, there are private lands within the California forest area which are now under purchase option by the Trust For Public Land (TPL); and
WHEREAS, the options cover some 20,000 acres of High Sierra Slopes, meadows, wilderness inholdings, irreplaceable elk and deer habitat, riparian and river recreation lands near and south of Lake Tahoe; and
WHEREAS, the California Department of Fish and Game is actively pursuing acquisition of some of the optioned lands; and
WHEREAS, the Toiyabe National Forest has given high priority in its land management planning to acquire the balance of the optioned lands; and
WHEREAS, the owners of the private lands are willing sellers; and
WHEREAS, moving these lands of Hope Valley, Carson-Iceberg Wilderness and the Walker River areas into public ownership will protect them for future generations’ use and enjoyment; and
WHEREAS, the terms of the options require timely action;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 16-19, 1989, in Arlington, Virginia endorses the acquisition of the optioned private inholdings and supports the inclusion of adequate funding in the U.S. Forest Service budget to acquire those portions of the lands under TPL option not being acquired by the State of California; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the appropriate affiliate organizations consider encouraging the funding support of their congressional delegations.